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Animated thriller
A Scanner Darkly (2006): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
A Scanner Darkly is a 2006 animated thriller directed by Richard Linklater, starring Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr. and Winona Ryder. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes and earned $7.7 million worldwide. Critics gave it 68% on Rotten Tomatoes and 73 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10. Stream it on Kanopy and YouTube Free, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 40m (100 min)
- Director
- Richard Linklater
- Original language
-
English - After the credits
- No No extra scene
The story
What Is A Scanner Darkly About?
The premise of A Scanner Darkly without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In a dystopian future, an undercover narcotics agent struggles with drug addiction while attempting to infiltrate a drug ring. The blurring lines between his real identity and his assumed persona lead to a descent into paranoia and a questioning of reality. Combining live-action and animation, this darkly comedic adaptation of Philip K. Dick's semi-autobiographical novel explores themes of surveillance, deception, and the fragility of the human mind in a haunting vision of America.
A Scanner Darkly Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- covered in bugs
- fictional drug
- drugs
- rotoscoping
- lodge meeting
- washing a dog
- collie dog
- introduction
- man in a shower
- psychotronic film
- downward spiral
- undercover agent
+38 more Show fewer
- man wears eyeglasses
- alternate reality
- adult animation
- lawnmower
- female police officer
- suburb
- for grown ups animation
- mature animation
- female rear nudity
- female full frontal nudity
- bare chested man
- convertible car
- bearded man
- sportscar
- identity
- substance d
- undercover
- sacrifice
- code name
- near future
- drug user
- california
- corporation
- schizophrenic
- detective
- undercover cop
- fast motion scene
- philosophy
- labor camp
- moral dilemma
- drug manufacturer
- smoke ring
- locker room
- brainwashing
- social commentary
- false name
- double cross
- false accusation
Where to watch
Where to Watch A Scanner Darkly
Stream it on Kanopy and YouTube Free, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 2
Streaming availability in the US, powered by 
Cast & crew
A Scanner Darkly Cast
Keanu Reeves leads the cast, with Robert Downey Jr. and Winona Ryder. Directed by Richard Linklater.
-
Director Richard Linklater
Ratings
A Scanner Darkly Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave A Scanner Darkly 68% on Rotten Tomatoes and 73 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10.
-
IMDb 7.0 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 68% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 74%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 73 Metascore
User score 7.1
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 68% User score
See on TMDB
Plot
A Scanner Darkly Plot Summary
What happens in A Scanner Darkly from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The United States has succumbed to the war on drugs, with Substance D, a potent drug inducing surreal hallucinations, now rampant throughout the nation. Alarmingly, an estimated 20% of the population is ensnared by addiction. In a desperate bid to regain control, the government has rolled out an invasive and sophisticated surveillance network, deploying undercover agents and informants to combat the escalating crisis.
Full summary
The whole story of A Scanner Darkly, scene by scene
Box office
A Scanner Darkly Box Office
A Scanner Darkly grossed $7.7 million worldwide. $5.5 million came from the US and Canada and $2.2 million (28%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$7.7M
- US & Canada
- $5.5M
- International
- $2.2M
US & Canada 72%
Rest of the world 28%
Videos
A Scanner Darkly Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer Original Theatrical Teaser Trailer
Quiz
How Well Do You Know A Scanner Darkly?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What substance ravaged the country in 'A Scanner Darkly'?
Cars
Cars in A Scanner Darkly
18 cars on screen, including the 1981 Chevrolet Impala and the 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
-
1981 Chevrolet Impala Main role -
1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata Important role -
1977 Toyota Corolla Important role -
1993 Ford Crown Victoria Minor role
Details
A Scanner Darkly Also Known As
30 alternative titles, including “Una mirada a la oscuridad” and “A”.
- Also known as
-
- Una mirada a la oscuridad
- A
- Neižvelgiamas pasaulis
- Viziuni întunecate
- Temacno zrcalo
- A Scanner Darkly: Una mirada a la oscuridad
- 黑暗掃描儀
- Karanlığı Taramak
- A Scanner Darkly - Un oscuro scrutare
- A Scanner Darkly - Der dunkle Schirm
- Помутнение
- A Scanner Darkly - O Homem Duplo
+18 more Show fewer
- A Scanner Darkly (Una mirada en la oscuridad)
- Temný obraz
- Przez ciemne zwierciadło
- 黑暗扫描仪
- Kamera által homályosan
- Камера потъмняла
- סורק אפלה
- O Homem Duplo
- Mračni skener
- Replikator
- Hämärän vartija
- Läbi hägu
- 스캐너 다클리
- Затьмарення
- 心機掃描
- 世紀毒殺網絡
- スキャナー・ダークリー
- สแกนเนอร์ ดาร์คลี่
Seen A Scanner Darkly?
More like this
Movies Like A Scanner Darkly
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Scanners, Scanners III: The Takeover and Altered States of Plaine.
From the blog
Articles About A Scanner Darkly
Our article about A Scanner Darkly: “Exploring the World of Cult Animation Films”.
FAQ
A Scanner Darkly FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of A Scanner Darkly, each answered in a sentence.
How long is A Scanner Darkly?
A Scanner Darkly runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).
When was A Scanner Darkly released?
A Scanner Darkly was released on July 7, 2006.
Who directed A Scanner Darkly?
A Scanner Darkly was directed by Richard Linklater.
More films by Richard Linklater Who is in the cast of A Scanner Darkly?
A Scanner Darkly stars Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr. and Winona Ryder.
Where can I watch A Scanner Darkly?
In the US, A Scanner Darkly is streaming on Kanopy and YouTube Free and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did A Scanner Darkly make at the box office?
A Scanner Darkly grossed $7.7 million worldwide ($5.5 million domestic, $2.2 million international).
How is A Scanner Darkly rated?
A Scanner Darkly has 7.0/10 on IMDb, 68% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73 on Metacritic and 68% on TMDB.
Does A Scanner Darkly have a post-credit scene?
No. A Scanner Darkly has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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